the witch and other stories(女巫)-第30节
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sometimes the Juniors quarrelled among themselves and began going to
law； and their factory did not work for a month or two till they were
reconciled again； and this was an entertainment for the people of Ukleevo；
as there was a great deal of talk and gossip on the occasion of each quarrel。
On holidays Kostukov and the Juniors used to get up races； used to dash
about Ukleevo and run over calves。 Aksinya； rustling her starched
petticoats； used to promenade in a low…necked dress up and down the
street near her shop； the Juniors used to snatch her up and carry her off as
though by force。 Then old Tsybukin would drive out to show his new
horse and take Varvara with him。
In the evening； after the races； when people were going to bed； an
expensive concertina was played in the Juniors' yard and； if it were a
moonlight night； those sounds sent a thrill of delight to the heart； and
Ukleevo no longer seemed a wretched hole。
II
The elder son Anisim came home very rarely； only on great holidays；
but he often sent by a returning villager presents and letters written in very
good writing by some other hand； always on a sheet of foolscap in the
form of a petition。 The letters were full of expressions that Anisim never
made use of in conversation： 〃Dear papa and mamma； I send you a pound
of flower tea for the satisfaction of your physical needs。〃
At the bottom of every letter was scratched； as though with a broken
pen： 〃Anisim Tsybukin；〃 and again in the same excellent hand： 〃Agent。〃
The letters were read aloud several times； and the old father； touched；
red with emotion； would say：
〃Here he did not care to stay at home； he has gone in for an intellectual
line。 Well； let him！ Every man to his own job！
It happened just before Carnival there was a heavy storm of rain mixed
with hail； the old man and Varvara went to the window to look at it； and lo
and behold！ Anisim drove up in a sledge from the station。 He was quite
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unexpected。 He came indoors； looking anxious and troubled about
something； and he remained the same all the time； there was something
free and easy in his manner。 He was in no haste to go away； it seemed； as
though he had been dismissed from the service。 Varvara was pleased at his
arrival； she looked at him with a sly expression； sighed； and shook her
head。
〃How is this； my friends？〃 she said。 〃Tut； tut； the lad's in his twenty…
eighth year； and he is still leading a gay bachelor life； tut； tut； tut。 。 。 。〃
From the other room her soft； even speech sounded like tut； tut； tut。
She began whispering with her husband and Aksinya； and their faces wore
the same sly and mysterious expression as though they were conspirators。
It was decided to marry Anisim。
〃Oh； tut； tut 。 。 。 the younger brother has been married long ago；〃 said
Varvara； 〃and you are still without a helpmate like a cock at a fair。 What is
the meaning of it？ Tut； tut； you will be married； please God； then as you
choose you will go into the service and your wife will remain here at
home to help us。 There is no order in your life； young man； and I see you
have forgotten how to live properly。 Tut； tut； it's the same trouble with all
you townspeople。〃
When the Tsybukins married； the most handsome girls were chosen as
brides for them as rich men。 For Anisim； too； they found a handsome one。
He was himself of an uninteresting and inconspicuous appearance； of a
feeble； sickly build and short stature； he had full； puffy cheeks which
looked as though he were blowing them out； his eyes looked with a keen；
unblinking stare； his beard was red and scanty； and when he was thinking
he always put it into his mouth and bit it； moreover he often drank too
much； and that was noticeable from his face and his walk。 But when he
was informed that they had found a very beautiful bride for him； he said：
〃Oh well； I am not a fright myself。 All of us Tsybukins are handsome； I
may say。〃
The village of Torguevo was near the town。 Half of it had lately been
incorporated into the town； the other half remained a village。 In the first
the town half there was a widow living in her own little house； she had a
sister living with her who was quite poor and went out to work by the day；
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and this sister had a daughter called Lipa； a girl who went out to work； too。
People in Torguevo were already talking about Lipa's good looks； but her
terrible poverty put everyone off； people opined that some widower or
elderly man would marry her regardless of her poverty； or would perhaps
take her to himself without marriage； and that her mother would get
enough to eat living with her。 Varvara heard about Lipa from the
matchmakers； and she drove over to Torguevo。
Then a visit of inspection was arranged at the aunt's； with lunch and
wine all in due order； and Lipa wore a new pink dress made on purpose for
this occasion； and a crimson ribbon like a flame gleamed in her hair。 She
was pale…faced； thin； and frail； with soft； delicate features sunburnt from
working in the open air； a shy； mournful smile always hovered about her
face； and there was a childlike look in her eyes； trustful and curious。
She was young； quite a little girl； her bosom still scarcely perceptible；
but she could be married because she had reached the legal age。 She really
was beautiful； and the only thing that might be thought unattractive was
her big masculine hands which hung idle now like two big claws。
〃There is no dowry and we don't think much of that；〃 said Tsybukin
to the aunt。 〃We took a wife from a poor family for our son Stepan； too；
and now we can't say too much for her。 In house and in business alike she
has hands of gold。〃
Lipa stood in the doorway and looked as though she would say： 〃Do
with me as you will； I trust you；〃 while her mother Praskovya the work…
woman hid herself in the kitchen numb with shyness。 At one time in her
youth a merchant whose floors she was scrubbing stamped at her in a rage；
she went chill with terror and there always was a feeling of fear at the
bottom of her heart。 When she was frightened her arms and legs trembled
and her cheeks twitched。 Sitting in the kitchen she tried to hear what the
visitors were saying； and she kept crossing herself； pressing her fingers to
her forehead； and gazing at the ikons。 Anisim； slightly drunk； opened the
door into the kitchen and said in a free…and…easy way：
〃Why are you sitting in here； precious mamma？ We are dull without
you。〃
And Praskovya； overcome with timidity； pressing her hands to her lean；
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wasted bosom； said：
〃Oh； not at all。 。 。 。 It's very kind of you。〃
After the visit of inspection the wedding day was fixed。 Then Anisim
walked about the rooms at home whistling； or suddenly thinking of
something； would fall to brooding and would look at the floor fixedly；
silently； as though he would probe to the depths of the earth。 He expressed
neither pleasure that he was to be married； married so soon； on Low
Sunday； nor a desire to see his bride； but simply went on whistling。 And it
was evident he was only getting married because his father and stepmother
wished him to； and because it was the custom in the village to marry the
son in order to have a woman to help in the house。 When he went away he
seemed in no haste； and behaved altogether not as he had done on previous
visits was particularly free and easy； and talked inappropriately。
III
In the village Shikalovo lived two dressmakers； sisters； belonging to
the Flagellant sect。 The new clothes for the wedding were ordered from
them； and they often came to try them on； and stayed a long while
drinking tea。 They were making Varvara a brown dress with black lace and
bugles on it； and A
